. >> reporter: the city has a huge project on its hands. the city manager said this is the largest sinkhole he hasstein in more than 20 years and going to take a lot of time and money to fix it. a big problem in one lafayette neighborhood a 20-foot sinkhole swallowing a section of mountain view drive near downtown. chris lives steps away in this blue house. the sinkhole is practically in his front yard goosiery. sounded like a big crushing -- crumbling in. >> reporter: the sinkhole opened up yesterday after heavy rain. the creek under the street was running high with debris. >> it plugged the talbot, goes under the road, the water had nowhere to go and so it eroded the road around the culvert and collapsed the road. >> reporter: neighbors can't believe it. >> absolutely amazing. never seen anything like this in my life, never dreamed of it. by knew the area flooded on -- we knew the area flooded on new year's in 1977 but never saw this before. >> i have never seen this happen before. right in front of my house, it's like wow. >> reporter: t